Yarn binder for knitting machines



March 10, 1942. R. H. LAWSON ETAL I YARN BINDER FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Sept. l5, 1936 March 10, 1942. R LAWSON ETAL 2,276,214

YARN BINDER FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Sept. 15, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 F1 G. 4'. I 8

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YARN BINDER FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Sept. 15, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 5o 32 3 3,4- v 5| 5T 42 gr" 4 4 :2 a T H 40 3 N KJBEHHMWMM 1.12% tffggE/Y BY A Patentecl Mar. 10, 1942 S ATNT OFFICE YARN BINDER FOR KNITTING MACHINES Application September 15, 1936, Serial No. 100,908 In Canada December 17, 1935 9 Claims.

This case has to do with a new mechanism for binding and cutting yarns such as are used for knitting in circular knitting machines. Among other things the device herein shown and described is particularly adapted for clamping or binding elastic yarns along with other yarns employed in the production of stockings.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevation showing a knitting machine of conventional type wherein the invention may be employed;

Fig. 2 is a plan showing the complete binder and cutter assembly and the means for presenting the yarn to the needles of the machine;

-Fig. 3 is a detail showing a part of the machine as seen from the rear and showing means for controlling the main binder and cutter as well as the separate binder for the elastic yarn;

Fig. 4 is a section showing the binder clamping both the usual fibrous yarn and an elastic yarn;

Fig. 5 is an elevation showing certain cams employed in the control of the binder and cutter;

Fig. 6 is a view of certain parts, in section, and

showing the two yarns being clamped as they have been illustrated in Fig. 4;

Fig. '7 is a detail partly in section showing the clamping means as seen from the rear of the machine;

Fig. 8 is a detail view showing the upper clam opened while the lower clamp still retains the elastic yarn; and

Fig. 9 shows said clamps in a position wherein the elastic yarn has been released.

Fig. 10 is an isometric view showing details of the lower yarn clamping member.

- Fig. 11 is a similar isometric view showing details of the upper clamping member.

Considerable difficulty has been experienced when knitting elastic yarns such as those of covered or uncovered rubber due to the fact that the elastic yarn is introduced into the fabric under more or less tension. One of these difiiculties arises in the binding of the yarn in the usual binder. As is commonly known, several yarns are generally held in a yarn binder which comprises a main clamp and generally some sort of auxiliary clamp used in conjunction with the main clamp so that whenever the main clamp is opened to release any particular yarn, said auxiliary or secondary clamp will retain the remaining yarns while the desired one of the yarns is released. Of course, the main clamp will immediately close upon those remaining yarns positively to bind them. For the purpose of allowing a yarn to be pulled from the binder with a minimum of effort, the auxiliary or a secondary clamp usually exerts a rather slight restraining influence on the various yarns held by it. This is permissible since the main clamp is opened for very short intervals.

In the event a rubber yarn is to be held in one of the conventional binders such as described heretofore, that rubber yarn will be held in a stretched condition and due to the fact that very little restraining effect can beprovided by an auxiliary or secondary clamp, the instant the main clamp is opened said rubber yarn is very likely to snap out of the auxiliary binding means thus causing considerable difliculty and making it particularly difficulty if not practically impossible automatically to control and knit a rubber yarn in conjunction with other yarns, this rubber yarn being clamped in the same binder as the other yarns. The binder herein illustrated and described involves very littlemore mechanism than the usual binder employed on circular knitting machines and does not require any more space within the machine. The rubber yarn is retained at all times by a separate clamp which functions under the same control by which the main clamp and cutter are operated but the movement and functioning of either of said clamps will have no effect upon the yarn held by the other.

Referring to the figures of drawings, a conventional knitting machine of the Banner type has bee-n illustrated in Fig. 1, having a frame I, cylinder 2, circular base 3, cam assembly generally indicated at 4, sinker head and cap at 5 and the usual latch ringfi. A series of yarn feeding levers, better shown in Fig. 2, are designated by numeral 1 and are controlled by a series of fingers 8 caused to function by means of a series of cams (not shown) on drum 9. These yarn feeding fingers are operated in a manner wellknown in the art and would preferably be employed to introduce to the needles such yarns as would be used for a stocking top, leg, foot, etc. No further description of the same is necessary for this case. Latch ring 5 is hinged at Ill on a post ll, Fig. 4, and said latch ring is normally latched in position by the catch l2 or by any other satisfactory means.

Since the invention is especially concerned with machines of the type described wherein an elastic yarn is to be fed, although we contemplate using our combination binder and cutter wherever the same may be employed to advantage, a yarn guide l3 adjustably attached to lever i4 will carry a, rubber or other elastic yarn l5 and guide the same to the needles or to such needles as are to knit the elastic yarn. This guide and lever will normally be forced into an active position by means of a coil spring l6 having an extension l'i engaging on top of said lever. Another lever is pivoted at Ill and having an upturned portion 23 which engages beneath lever M will be employed at certain times to raise this auxiliary, rubber yarn feeding guide away from active position. Lever 2! bearing upon a cam (not shown) on drum 9 will control the action of said auxiliary, rubber yarn feeding guide by the connecting rod 22 attached at point 23 on lever H and at 24 on lever it. While it has not been shown since it forms no essential part of; the present case, some mechanism would be necessary to present the needles or at least some of the needles for taking this elastic yarn. The lever 25; pivoted at 26 has been shown connected at 2 tothe rodZiZ since this lever works upon another arm 28 by means of link 29 v to withdraw the narrowing pick as from a position wherein it might interfere with needle butts as they pass some cam means adjacent lever l3 which feeds the elastic yarn. This lever 25 andits function has been mentioned not as an essential part of the present case, but merely since it is moved when rod 22 is moved according to the particular construction illustrated.

Referring to Figs. 2, 4 and 6-9, we have illustrated a yarn binder having a plate 3i supported by a bracket 32 attached by any suitable means to a portion of latch ring 6. Said bracket 32 has downwardly projecting portions 33 and 34 which attach to plate 31 of the binder and which also provide a sort of support or base to which the various clamps and the cutter may-beworkably attached. The cutter 35 is of conventional design being pressed by spring 36 and pivoted on screw 31. This cutter is worked by a lever 38 which pivots on a projection -39v cast directly on the bracket 32, this lever 33 having a vertically disposed link $6 freely pivotedat the point 4| and attaching to the other end of cutter blade 35 at 42. This lever 38 connects at its other end 43 to a rod 4 5 which will move said lever at the proper time to cause the cutter to function and also, by means of a iaterallyprojecting finger 45, will operate the. usual yarn clamp 46- which is employed to bind all of the yarns other than the elastic yarns.

This clamp 48 is pivoted at 4'! whichis also the common pivot point about which the rubber yarn clamp swings although each clamp is independently operated. This main yarn clamping member has a tail portion 43 on: the opposite side of pivot 47 upon whichfinger 45 operates to tilt said clamp for the purpose of releasing a yarn or yarns when desired. A spring 49 coiled about the pivot 41 and. fixed to a pin 50 driven into clamp lS-will resiliently urge said clamp into a, position in which it will maintain ah of the yarns held therebeneath except at such times as it is actually opened by the automatically functioning mechanism of the knitting machine. Normally such a clamp would function to bind its yarns by holding them beneath its lower edge and against the upper surface of a fixed member such as the plate 3| but inthe novel construction herein described we have provided a second movable element which comprises a vertically disposed lever 5!, Figs. 4, 8, 9 and 10, which is pivoted at the common pivot point 41.

This portion 5! extends up within a slot 52, Figs. 6 and 11, out within the clamp 46, secondary elastic clamp then projects forwardly under the main clamp as shown at 53, it also being flanged outwardly to a thickness the equivalent of that of the clamp 46, Figs. 10 and 11. Thus it may be seen that the lower clamping surface of element 46 will clamp its yarns against the upper surface of the element 53 and that the lower edge which bears upon the elastic yarn or yarns clamped therebeneath will function to clamp said elastic yarn against the top surface of plate 3|. In Figs. 4 and 7 these clamps are shown holding one of the usual fibrous or other knitting yarns 54 and a rubber or other elastic yarn 55'.

These yarns then pass upwardly to be held beneath the usual auxiliary binder 56 which merely pivots on a screw ill and by means of its own weight, and in some cases under the influence of a ratherweak spring, will maintain. the common knitting yarns within the binder while one or more of them isbeing released by the clamp 46. It is to be noticed that the rubber yarn does incidentally pass beneath this auxiliary binder 56 as all of the yarns do but it'is not necessary that it should be so held since the elastic yarn is positively maintained between clamp 53: and the top surface of plate 31 at all times except when it is intentionally released to be knitted into the fabric. After passing under binder 56ithe'yarns are guided around a pin 58 and are shown terminating at the cutter 35 where they have been severed.

An angular bracket 58, Figs. 2 and 4,,is attached to the upper surface of bracket 32 and has pivoted at its upper end at 60 a lever 6| normally pulled downwardly by srping 62 connected to the lever and to bracket 32. This lever also has pivoted at one end 63 a link 64 which connects at 65 to the upper end of lever 5!. Itcan bev seen that spring 62 will thus tend to press the clamp 53-against the top surface of plate 3| to retain the rubber yarn. An offset rod 68,

3, runs upwardly through a guide 61 attached to the post II and hasan adjustable collar 68 at its upper end justabove the free end of lever 6| so that when this rod is pulled downwardly by mechanism presently to be described, clamp 53 will be opened.

The rod 66 is pivotally connected at point 69 ononeend of a two armed lever 10 which is free to move about a pivot H or lug I2- projecting from a fixed part of the machine. At the opposite end of this lever the rod 44 which is also maintained in proper vertical alignment by a guide 61' may be seen connected for operation at point 73. Nowreferring to- Figs. 1, 2' and-5, another rod 14 is connected-to the common pivot point 69 and attaches at its lower endto alever i5 rotatable about a pivot 16 and having a cam follower or toe portion "at the opposite end which bears upon certain cams ondrums 18.

These cams for controlling-thebinder will vary. in number, shape and position according-tethearticle to be-produced and the mannerand' extent of the knitting. of rubber yarn into'that article. Two cams l9 and fill-have been shown in. the

form of the inventionillustrated and these cams will be foundsufficient-for introducing the rubberin a stocking top or similar article, allowing that elastic yarn, to be knitted throughout a desired extent of the top and thenfor binding said:

elastic yarn at the termination of its knitting,

. andat the same time, controlling themain yarn This clamp independently of the rubber yarn clamp.

From the above description it can be seen that we have provided the usual binder for the ordinary yarn used in the knitting of such an article as a stocking, a cutter for severing these yarns when necessary and the usual auxiliary clamp. In addition to this, we have provided another positively operated clamp which allows the elastic yarn to pass under the same auxiliary clamping member and to be cut by the same severing means as the other knitting yarns, but positively holds said elastic yarns except at such times as it is desired to release it. This elastic yarn clamp actually forms a portion of the main yarn clamp thus taking up no more room on the binder plate or within the needle cylinder than the usual clamping and cutting devices of the sort described; further, the binding and releasing of the elastic yarn and of the other yarns employed function entirely independent of one another.

Referring to the figures of drawings we will now describe the operation of our yarn binder relative to the introduction of rubber yarn throughout an area such as that of the welt or top of a stocking wherein said rubber yarn might be knitted along with another yarn of the usual materials employed. It will be noticed that cams 19 and 89 which cause the binders and cutter to be actuated are formed with active surfaces at two different heights. The lower one of these controls the action of clamp 46 as well as of the cutter 35, while the higher surface will cause the clamp 53 to open away from plate 3| to release the elastic yarn. At the start of producing an article such as a stocking the toe 11 of lever 15 will ride up on the lower level of cam 79 pulling down rod 14, raising rod 44 to open main clamp 46 by means of lever 38, link 40 and finger 45. These parts will move from the position illustrated in Fig. 4 to that shown in Fig. 8. So much of the movement of the mechanism will have no efiect on the lever link 54 or clamp 53 except that rod 66 and collar 68 will move downwardly throughout an extent sufficient to take up the slack or clearance between the bottom of collar 68 and the top of lever BI.

The movement of the toe Tl up on to cam 19 is provided for releasing any one of the main yarns such as 54, one at least of which will be knitted during a few courses at the top of the stocking welt or top or whatever article is being knitted. After a few courses have been knitted at the top of such a welt, the mechanism will be given an additional movement as the toe 11 moves on to a higher part of cam 19 whereupon clamp 53 will be opened by rod 66 through the connections 6| and 54 to release the rubber which is to be inserted in some way within the fabric at this particular time. It is to be understood that the particular method or means for knitting the rubber does not form a part of this invention and will not be described to greater extent. It is evident that rubber yarn feeding guide 13 will be lowered or moved into an active position at the proper instant so that said rubber yarn will be taken by the needles just prior to being released from the binder. As far as the rubber yarn is concerned it would not be necessary to have the same held beneath auxiliary clamp 55 but in the construction illustrated it is merely convenient to do so; the other yarns must necessarily be held beneath said clamp 56 so that only the particular yarn or yarns which are to be knitted will be drawn from the main clamp 45 when it is opened.

' When the toe 11 of the lever 15 rides up to the higher level of the cams I9 and 80, the effect will be to open clamp 53 to the position of Fig. 9 and of course, completely open the cutter. When clamp 53 is in that raised position the clamp 46 will be closed upon the upper surface of the first mentioned clamping element. In other words the main yarn clamp will be closed while the elastic yarn clamp and the cutter are completely opened.

During the knitting of that portion of a knitted article wherein the rubber is to be introduced this position of elements (Fig. 9) may be maintained until the elastic yarn is taken into the binder, or until it is desired to make some sort of a yarn change involving actuation of the clamp 46. However, that would merely necessitate cams 5'9 and being continuous or maintaining such level of the higher cam surface that lever 15 would be maintained in its extreme position at which time toe 11 of the lever would be at the highest point away from drum I8. In the particular embodiment of the invention shown these cams are separated and the toe of the lever drops from cam 19 after insertion of the elastic yarn to feeding position and the parts remain in a position so that both clamps and the cutter are closed as in Fig. 4 until cam drum 78 has moved to a position where cam 80 will actuate lever 15 again opening the elastic yarn clamp as in Fig. 9 thereby allowing the elastic yarn to be withdrawn from the needles and to be taken within the elastic yarn binder. At that time yarn guide l3 will be raised and the elastic yarn thus tending to float across the needle circle will be guided over across the plate 3|, under clamp 53 at about which time the toe of lever 15 will drop from the higher to the lower level of cam 89. That will close clamp 53 but will leave clamp 45 opened as in Fig. 8. The cutter will cut the elastic since although it does not make a complete shearing movement, it will be actuated sufficiently to cut the elastic yarn which will have been drawn around into engagement with the shearing blades.

Themain yarn clamp 46 still held in open position, Fig. 8, will subsequently be closed as the toe ll drops from cam 80 as it will when a yarn change is made, such yarn change being made just after the elastic is withdrawn. At that time in the knitting of hosiery, the top yarn will be changed and the ring top or leg yarn introduced. Of course if no main yarn change were.

to be made at this particular point, cam 80 might be made with a single step whereupon both clamps would close completely as the clasticyarn was engaged for retention.

This single illustration of the function of our binder is merely illustrative of one manner in which it may be employed and we do not intend to limit its use to the introduction of rubber yarn only since it is readily applicable to any material wherein one of the materials introduced does not knit as well when clamped in the same binder with the others. It is not necessarily limited to hosiery machines nor to machines of the circular type such as we have illustrated. The rubber may be introduced and withdrawn within or for single courses or it might be introduced over areas extending through different portions of any stocking or article. While we have described our invention in more or less specific terms and with reference to its application to a single problem and a definite type of the machine, we do not intend to be limited thereby except as necessarily limited by the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a knitting machine, the combination of knitting instrumentalities and means for feeding a plurality of yarns to the instrumentalities, a yarn binder for some of said yarns and another yarn binder for others of said yarns, each binder functioning independently to bind its own yarn or yarns, the binders being so constructed that one binds its yarn against a fixed element and the other binds its yarn against a portion of the first.

2. In a knitting machine, the combination of knitting instrumentalities and means for feeding a plurality of yarns to said instrumentalities yarn binding devices including a fixed plate and a pair of movable yarn binding elements, one of said elements moving to and from the plate to bind yarn against said plate and the other moving to and from a portion of the first mentioned element to bind its yarn against that element.

3. In a knitting machine, the combination of knitting instrumentalities and means for feeding a plurality of yarns to said instrumentalities, yarn binding devices including a plate fixed within the circle of said instrumentalities, a yarn binding member and a pivot about which said member is movable to and from said plate to clamp a yarn or yarns against the said plate, another clamping member lying in substantially the same vertical plane as the first and swinging about the same pivot but movable independently of the first clamping member, a spring for urging the second member against a part of the first and means for causing each member independently to release or clamp its yarn.

4. A yarn binder for knitting machines of the type described including a fixed element depending within the circle of needles of said machine and providing a pivotal support for a plurality of yarn binding elements, a binding element movable on said pivotal support and so constructed that it Will clamp a yarn against the supporting element and having another surface or portion of the same whereupon other yarns are to be clamped by means of a second movable binding element, a second binding element movable about the same support as the first and separately and independently controllable for releasing and binding its yarn against the first.

5. A yarn binder for knitting machines of the type described adapted to bind one type of yarn separately from another, a fixed element and a movable clamping. member cooperating with. said fixed element in a manner for binding one of the yarns and another clamping member movable independently of the first movable member but cooperating therewith to bind the other type of yarn and. means for causing each movable member to bind and to release its yarn without interfering with the function of the other.

6. A- yarn binder for knitting machines of the type described, including a support, a plate depending therefrom, a pivotal mounting for a pair of movable binding elements and an element movable on said pivotal support to clamp yarn between its lower surface and the top surface of the plate, another binding member pivoted' on the same support as the first and movable to and from a cooperating surface on the upper side of said first mentioned element to bind yarn against that element, means for causing each of the movable binding elements to function independently of the other, feeding means including a pair of levers for controlling movements of said clamping element and controlling means with provision for lost motion whereby a definite movement of said controlling mechanism will cause one clamp to open and additional movement will then cause the other clamp to open and the first to close.

7. A yarnbinder for circular knitting machines including a plate, a pivotal support for a pair of binding elements, one binding element being pivoted upon said support and having an extending arm by means of which it is swung about that support, the lower portion of said binder being. flanged to greater width than the arm and bearing against the topof the plate when in yarn binding position, the second binder being of substantially the same width as the flanged portion of the first and slotted in a position wherein it overlaps the first binder so that both binders work in substantially the same vertical plane.

8. In a knitting machine of the type described, yarn binding means for the usual knitting yarns and individual binding means for a so-called elastic yarn, said binding means having means functioning thereon individually to move them for the purpose of releasing and binding the yarns held thereby, said binding means working in substantially the same vertical plane.

9. In a. knitting machine of the type described, yarn binding means for individually retaining the usual knitting yarns and an elastic yarn, said binding means including a pair of binding elements pivoting about the same axis and moving in substantially the same plane.

ROBERT H. LAWSON. ISAAC H. C. GREEN. 

